Glider apparatus



Dec. 17, 1940. F. E. wELcH GLIDER APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR AT ORNEYS rlI' Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNH'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE GLIDER APPARATUS Frederic E. Welch, Yonkers, N. Y. Application March 12, 1940, Serial No. 323,513

15 Claims.

The invention comprises a glider apparatus in which a carriage moves down an incline, then drops abruptly to a second incline and glides down it, this continuing as many times as desired. A feature of particular importance is an arrangement in such an apparatus whereby, although the carriage is essentially a free independent object gliding and falling of its own inherent weight and momentum, it nevertheless drops directly from one level to the next without tilting or undergoing any apparent disturbance of its equilibrium, even when provided with a relatively high superstructure. The result is an interesting effect, particularly to the eye of a moving object that glides along horizontally, drops abruptly and freely, and then resumes its horizontal gliding movement, all in a sort of floating uniformly upright position.

The carriage may be of various forms and have a variety of devices carried thereby or associated therewith, and the structure providing the runways may be varied in many details or aspects, and likewise the size of the apparatus in general may be varied to suit the circumstances. The apparatus as a whole, for example, may consti- .tute a conveyor means of substantial size or it may be in the nature of an amusement device or a toy of relatively small dimensions. The invention is particularly adapted to the latter, and there is disclosed herein a specific embodiment, in which the carriage comprises a wheeled car or truck having mounted thereon a pair of stilts adapted to carry a small figure at the top, the apparatus as a whole comprising an amusing and interesting toy.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, andarrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and 40 the scope of which invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general assembly view in elevation of one specific embodiment of the invention, parts of the track support being shown in section in this figure;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation looking from the right in Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal plan view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 isa rear elevation looking from the left in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a'view of the carriage supporting a gondola instead of the device shown in the form Figs. 1 to 4.

As stated, Fig. 1 is a general assembly of a particular embodiment which comprises, as there shown, a series of inclined trackways I0, I I, I2 and I3 arranged at successively lower levels with an abrupt drop from one level to the next. A carriage in the form of a wheeled truck or car indicated generally at M is designed to ride down the successive inclines dropping from one to the next. It will be apparent particularly from the more complete description to follow that the number of successive trackways may be varied, and the depth of each intervening drop, and likewise the length and slope of each incline, may be varied each independently of the others, all in accordance with the conditions of operation and results desired in a particular case. Similarly at the end the truck may be left free to take its own course, such as by running out onto a fiat horizontal platform.

The traction members which are embodied in the truck may vary to some extent as to character and location, but in the specific construction shown the truck has front traction members in the form of two spaced wheels or rollers l5 and rear members l6 likewise in the form of two spaced wheels or rollers but of narrower gauge and located so as to track inside of the front wheels. The truck also has auxiliary guiding means, which will be referred to shortly.

The inclined trackways ill to I3 are supported on two side members I! held together in any suitable manner as by the cross members [8 embodying tie rods. Each trackway provides track surfaces for the front and rear car wheels which are distinct from each other. For the rear Wheels it special rails or track members may be provided but, as shown, these wheels operate on the flat surface [9 just inside of the raised side guides 20; and the front wheels 15 operate on outside tracks'2l which extend forward in the form of side rails Zla with an open space between, sufficient to permit the truck I4 to drop down between the said side rails when the wheels run over the edge of their respective tracks. The inclined trackway H which is similar to trackway [0 may be seen more clearly in the Figures 2 and 3 unobscured by the car. There is included the inner trackway 22 with the side guides 23, and the outer tracks 24 terminating forwardly in the side rails 24a corresponding to the extensions Zia of the upper trackway. The arrangement of inclined trackway [2 as it appears in the drawings is in turn similar in general to that of the inclined trackway l I, but, as heretofore mentioned, the length of the incline and the slope may be different in each of these cases. Likewise the incline l3 may be like the preceding trackways, or, as shown, a plain inclined flat surface.

Of particular importance in the arrangement so far described is the fact that the rear-wheels roll over the edge of their track surface and are ready to drop simultaneously with the front wheels. It is preferable in this respect to make the front and rear wheels of the same size so that they run over the ends of their respective tracks in the same manner and with the same type of motion. With the same size wheels, front and rear, the track for the front wheels will extend beyond the inside track surface for the rear wheels, a distance equal to the centerto-center distance between the axes of the front and rear wheels. In otherwords, in the present apparatus the length of the extensions Zia and 24a, for example, are equal to the distance between the axes of wheels 15 and I6.

The truck may be provided with various additional means to insure its guidance and'stability under different conditions of operation, and the truck shown has auxiliary front wheels 21 adapted to be guided by suitable means." In the present easethe means comprises the raised guides 20 on the uppermost trackway and similar guides on the lower trackways. It will be noted that the width from the outside of one wheel 21 to the outside of the corresponding wheel on the opposite side is the same as the outside width of the two rear'wheels l6 and both pairs of wheels zland I B are caused to move along inside the guides 20, the leading wheels 21 acting in'particular to guide the truck and keep it moving in'the desired direction. i i Further guiding and stabilizing means are provided in the specific construction ShOWIL comprising the wheels 28 mounted on the axle 29 designed to float both sidewise and vertically in the slot 30 of the carriage. Each of the side members I! of the supporting structure has a zigzag T-slot 3| including the widened enclosed part 32 in which the wheels 28 are adapted to move. Although of zigzag shape, the slots are continuous from the upper entrance point 33 to the exit point 34. The zigzag shape in general comprises a. horizontal run parallel to the trackway I0, then a vertical drop corresponding to the drop of the truck as it falls to the trackway I I, then a second horizontal run parallel to the trackway II, and so on. In general it is preferable that the vertical portions of the slots correspond in direction to a plumb line but that the-horizontal runs be parallel to the respective trackways. The relation of the zigzag T-slot 3| tofthe remaining supporting structure is such that wheels 28 leave the respective horizontal portion ready for the vertical drop simultaneously with the wheels [5 and I6. Since the axle 29 of the wheels 28 floats in the truck carriage, these wheels normally impose no substantial amount of friction or binding on the progress of the car, but the means makes it impossible for the car to leave the supporting structure under abnormal circumstances even which might arise in operation. i As heretofore mentioned, the carriage may support any desired structure, such as an amusing figure, advertising media or a conveyor receptacle. In Figs. 1 to 4 the supported device comprises a pair of stilts 36, at the top of which is the figure of a man 31. In this form the apparatus is intended to comprise a toy. To start operation the carriage is introduced at the beginning of the upper runway corresponding to the upper lefthand corner in Fig. 1, and it then proceeds by gravity first gliding along the upper trackway l0, then dropping down to the next lower trackway II and resuming its substantially horizontal gliding movement, and so on. Variations of speed may be introduced by such means as use of inclines of different slope and length. 'I'horoughout the maneuvers the elevated figure '31 maintains a dignified upright position.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a carriage supporting a device 38 of different form comprising in general a gondola which may be arranged to convey anything from loose bulk materials to children. In the latter case the apparatus as a whole would provide an amusing ride. The size in general of the apparatus will depend, of course, upon its use.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A glider apparatus comprising an elevated support, a movable carriage having front and rear traction members and inclined tracks on said elevated support for each said front and rear members, the tracks and the traction members being arranged and related such that in moving down the incline the said rear members reach the end of their respective tracks at substantially the same time as the said front members reach the end of their corresponding tracks.

2. A glider apparatus comprising an elevated support, a movable carriage having apair of spaced front traction members and rear traction means located between but to the rear of the front members, and inclined tracks on said elevated support for each said front and rear traction means, the respective tracks and carriage traction means being so related and arranged that in moving down the incline the front and the rear traction means reach the end of their respective tracks at substantiallythe same time. 3; A glider apparatus comprising a supporting structure, a movable truck having a pair of spaced front traction wheels and rear traction means located between but to the, rear of said front wheels, and inclined tracks on said supporting structure for each said front and rear traction means ending in an abrupt drop, the track for the rear traction means terminating short of the track for the front traction means, such that in the movement of the truck down the incline the front and rear tractionzmeans leave their respective tracks at substantially the same time permitting the truck to drop vertically without turning.

4. A glider apparatus comprising a support having a plurality of inclined runways arranged in tandem but at successively lower levels in the direction of the downward incline with a substantial abrupt drop between, a carriage adapted to be mounted thereon having a pair of spaced front traction members and rear traction means located between but to the rear of said front traction members, and track means on said runways for each said front and rear traction means, 5 the track means for the rear traction means terminating at such dropping point short of the track means for the said front traction members a distance such that the carriage drops vertically without substantial tipping.

5. A glider apparatus comprising a supporting frame having a plurality of inclined runways arranged in tandem but at successively lower levels in the direction of the downward incline with an abrupt drop between, a truck adapted to operate thereon having a pair of spaced front wheels and a pair of rear wheels located to the rear of but inside of said front pair, and inclined tracks on said runways for each of said wheels, the downward end at a dropping point of the inside tracks for the rear wheels and the associated inside structure between the outer tracks for said front wheels terminating short of the outer tracks a distance such that the front and rear wheels roll off the ends of their respective tracks substantially simultaneously and the rear end of the I truck being sufiiciently narrow to drop between the extended side tracks permitting the truck to drop vertically without tipping.

6. A glider apparatus comprising an elevated support, a movable carriage having a pair of spaced front traction members and rear traction means located between but to the rear of the front members and a relatively tall superstructure mounted on the carriage, and inclined tracks on said elevated support for each said front and rear traction means ending in an abrupt drop, the respective tracks and carriage traction means being so related and arranged that in moving down the incline the front 40 and the rear traction means reach the end of their respective tracks at substantially the same time and the carriage and its superstructure drops without substantial tilting thereof.

7. An amusement device comprising a main supporting structure, a carriage adapted to move thereon, a figure mounted on said carriage front traction means and rear traction means embodied in said carriage, a plurality of inclined runways arranged in tandem on said support but 5 in the form of stairs with an abrupt drop between, tracks on said runways for each of said carriage traction means terminating at different points adjacent a dropping off point, the said tracks and carriage traction means being arranged and related such that the front and rear traction means pass over the endsof their respective tracks substantially simultaneously.

8. A guide and supporting means for a glider carriage comprising a plurality of runways arranged in tandem but at successively lower levels in the direction of the downward incline with an abrupt drop between said runways having a pair of spaced outer tracks, and a second track means located between the outer track means, said inner track means and associated inner structure terminating short of the outer tracks at the dropping point.

9. A glider apparatus comprising an elevated support, a movable carriage having front and rear traction means, inclined tracks on said elevated support for each said front and rear traction means, raised side rails associated with said tracks to guide the carriage, the tracks and the traction means being arranged and related such 75 that in moving down the incline the said rear traction means reaches the end of its respective track at substantially the same "time as the said front traction means reaches the end of its corresponding track.

l0. -A glider apparatus comprising an elevated support and a movable carriage, said carriage having a pair of spaced front traction members, a rear traction means located between but to the rear of said front members, and a guide wheel projecting from each side of the carriage above the traction means, said elevated support being provided with an inclined track for the front and rear traction means respectively ending in an abrupt drop and with a guide at each side of the support adapted to receive the respective guide wheel, the respective tracks and carriage means being so related and arranged that in moving down the incline the front and the rear traction means reach the end of their respective tracks substantially simultaneously, and the said guide ways for said guide wheels being correspondingly shaped permitting the carriage to drop vertically without turning.

11. A glider apparatus comprising a support having an elevated runway, a movable carriage having a pair of spaced front traction members, rear traction means located between but to the rear of the front members, and guide traction means at the front of said carriage, inclined tracks on said elevated runway for each said front and rear traction means, and a raised guide associated with said tracks adapted to cooperate with the guide means of said carriage to direct it, the respective tracks and carriage traction means being so related and arranged that in moving down the incline the front and the rear traction means reach the end Of their respective tracks at substantially the same time.

12. A glider apparatus comprising a support, a movable carriage having front and rear traction means and a guide means on each side above said traction means, elevated inclined tracks on said support for each said front and rear trac tion means, the tracks and the traction means being arranged and related such that in moving down the incline the said rear traction means reaches the end of its respective track at substantially the same time as the said front traction means reaches the end of its corresponding track, and a guide in said support at each side of the tracks adapted to receive the respective guide means of the carriage.

13. A glider apparatus comprising a support having a plurality of inclined runways arranged in tandem but at successively lower levels in the direction of the downward incline with an abrupt drop between, a movable carriage having a pair of spaced front traction wheels and rear traction means located between but to the rear of said front wheels and a guide wheel projecting from each side of the carriage above the traction means, inclined tracks onsaid runways for each said front and rear traction means ending in an abrupt drop, the track for the rear traction means terminating short of the track for the front traction means, such that in the movement of the truck down the incline the front and rear traction means leave their respective tracks at substantially the same time permitting the truck to drop vertically to the next runway without tilting, and a guide at each side of said support adapted to receive the respective guide wheel of the carriage, said guides being continuous but having changes in direction to accommodate the movement of the carriage in gliding down anincline and dropping from one incline to the next.

14., A glider apparatus comprising a supporting structure, a movable truck having a pair of spaced front traction members and rear traction means located between but to the rear of said front traction members, and tracks on said supporting structure for each said front and rear traction means ending in an abrupt drop in the forward direction, the track for the rear traction means terminating short of the track: for the front traction means, such that in the advancing of the truck the front and rear traction means ride over the ends of their respective tracks at substantially the same time permitting the truck to drop vertically without turning.

15. A glider apparatus comprising a support having aplurality' of runways thereon arranged on said runways for each said front and rear 10 traction means, the track means for the rear traction means terminating at such dropping point short of the track means for the said front traction members a distance such that the carriage drops vertically without substantial tip- 15 ping.

FREDERIC E. WELCH. 

